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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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Original poster

Carnforth, Morecambe Bay, Cumbria.. Emergency advice re safari park and stuff for tweens

20 replies

Beepbeepa · 27/08/2020 09:43

We have never been to the Lakes area before but some very kind friends are letting us stay in their annex near Carnforth. We have done a couple of decent walks but the kids 7, 12, 14 want to mix it up a bit with some less "walky" days. Littlest is set on a safari park, but there are two. Are either any good? I am not kerb on anywhere that doesn't prioritise welfare. Oldest wants to "go on the water or to the beach". Friends are away so not around for local tips and since this is our only break this year I am hoping not to waste any days... Hoping the great MN can share to good on good places for this age group, possibly even some walks, etc we are pretty active but didn't bring bikes

OP posts:

Original poster

Beepbeepa · 27/08/2020 09:44

Middle one isn't being ignored BTW! Very happy as long as its an active day with ice cream at some point!

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Anotherthink · 27/08/2020 09:57

When you say there are two safari parks near carnforth...where??? I know there's one near Liverpool but I wouldn't say that's near carnforth. There's a big zoo near barrow which used to have a lot of welfare concerns but I'm not sure about now. They were took over and don't hear about there being problems anymore.

I live in north cumbria and I've avoided the lakes for a while as it's so busy. I've been to Lancaster and Morecambe a few times, they're both very nice.

Sorry my tips are very generalised, but at least I've bumped the post for you!

Original poster

Beepbeepa · 27/08/2020 10:22

Thank you! There is the SouthLakes safari zoo one which I think you refer to, and the Lake District wildlife park near kendal. Both about an hour away, so near is a bit relative!

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Aroundtheworldin80moves · 27/08/2020 10:27

There is a massive park near Morecambe b(the name is escaping me) with a pretty decent play area for older children. Not sure what bits are likely to be open this year. Probably not the splash pad. But there's crazy golf and other bits.

nc600 · 27/08/2020 10:28

South Lakes is better but not been since COVID. I would have a drive into Morecambe. Happy Mount Park - walk all the way through and there is a good zip line at the end. Then drive and park near lifeboat station, ice creams at Mia Mio and walk onto the hovercraft station and jetty. Mooch around on the beach a bit and then fish and chips.

Heysham is nice. You can park in the village and walk up to St. Peter's church and the Viking graves. Then over the Barrows where you'll see the port and boats and the power station (pretty interesting programme filmed there on bbc last week). A meal in the Royal Heysham afterwards.

nc600 · 27/08/2020 10:31

The splash park is closed at Happy Mount. The train is running as are the trampolines and boat swings.

Fish and chips I'd recommend Blackburn's/Bay fish shop on Queen St. You could go into Lancaster too. Williamson Park is good and there's the castle and Priory. Not sure if City Museum and Maritime Museum are open but both are good.

OllyBJolly · 27/08/2020 10:33

There's a fantastic dive centre near Carnforth

www.dive-site.co.uk/

BikeRunSki · 27/08/2020 10:34

Chester Zoo is about 1.5 hours away. Heavily into welfare and conservation issues. We went last week (booked in advance).

nc600 · 27/08/2020 10:36

You could have a drive up to Windermere too. I'd park at Ambleside and take the Ferry to Brockholes. Lots to do, renting kayaks etc and you can get off and explore a castle before hopping back on. Treetop ropes course and play nets for the youngest. Take a picnic

Original poster

Beepbeepa · 27/08/2020 23:28

Brilliant suggestions, thank you so very much! We did windermere today and the trip basically that was suggested, it was great! and we will do morcambe tomorrow. Zoo thing tbc... Thank you team!

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yahoosername · 27/08/2020 23:40

Glad you've had a good day. It's forecast a bit of rain tomorrow in Morecambe but you'll be fine.

Happy mount park will definitely be fun for your little one. Bruciannis or Mia mio for ice creams. Obviously get your photo taken with Eric and have a stroll along the promenade. The best arcades are at Pleasureland and there's a new bowling and pizza complex above there too. Have a look inside the Midland, it was derelict for a long time but has been restored to its former Art Deco glory (needs a paint at the moment outside but hey ho).

There is a memorial to the cocklers next to the lifeboat station and the stone jetty is great next to to hovercraft station, behind the midland.

Enjoy 😊

Funf · 28/08/2020 06:08

I would do Chester Zoo or Knowsley Safari Park, both good but different, you could make either in to a good day out by adding Chester or Liverpool to the trip Chester's nice but Liverpool has a lot more to do

Funf · 28/08/2020 06:08

www.donthibernate.co.uk/liverpool/

RJnomore1 · 28/08/2020 06:16

They might like white scar cave which is not too far
whitescarcave.co.uk/

And the chocolate shop in Kirby Lonsdale has a basement where you can see the elves mining the chocolate ( not worth a trip alone but a fun diversion, chocolate is lovely and the town has lovely shops and cafes.

It’s a few years now but we had a holiday in carnforth, it was great. We did go to Morecambe and with the exception of the park mentioned above it was an incredibly depressing place.

Finally if I remember rightly carnforth train station is the one used in brief encounter if you are passing it.

BikeRunSki · 28/08/2020 08:05

For beaches in that area, we used to go to Humphrey Head, just west of Grange over Sands.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/08/2020 08:54

The Midland (the posh hotel) does nice Cocktails. A bit restricted at the moment though. Plus a very nice Afternoon Tea. Have a nosy in the car park at the high end cars too.

yahoosername · 28/08/2020 10:50

"It’s a few years now but we had a holiday in carnforth, it was great. We did go to Morecambe and with the exception of the park mentioned above it was an incredibly depressing place."

How could anyone find the stone jetty depressing? The promenade is beautiful and well kept. There has been a lot of regeneration in Morecambe, particularly with the much anticipated Eden Project North.

Check out #morecambe on insta if you have it. Really lovely things to see and the views are amazing

seaweedhead · 28/08/2020 11:23

Some of the beaches in South Cumbria are stunning. I love the sand dunes at Roanhead.

Potionqueen · 28/08/2020 16:54

There is a place near Keswick that does Alpaca walks - alpacaly ever after. Have a look at that.

Flowersmakemyday · 28/08/2020 18:17

Have a look at Bardsea Alpacas on Fb, you can book to have a picnic with them and usually can book to take them for a walk, but not sure if that's happening since lockdown. Plus, they're right next to the beach. If you come this way, the Manjushri/Budhist Temple is beautiful to look at. They have a nice cafe and room outside for the kids to run around and then a walk through the woods to the beach.

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